Football

Northwestern's Kain Colter accounted for all four touchdowns against Iowa to earn weekly honors.

Oct. 29, 2012

Offensive Player of the WeekKain Colter, NorthwesternJr., QB, Denver, Colo./Cherry Creek• Accounted for all four Northwestern touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 28-17 victory over Iowa on Saturday• Rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries, helping the Wildcats total 349 yards on the ground• Added 80 passing yards, 47 of which came on a third-quarter touchdown strike to make the score 28-3• Claims his third career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor, and second this season• Last Northwestern Offensive Player of the Week: Kain Colter (Oct. 1, 2012)

Defensive Co-Players of the WeekMichael Carter, MinnesotaSr., DB, Pompano Beach, Fla./Ely• Tied a program record with six pass breakups and returned an interception for a touchdown to help Minnesota knock off Purdue, 44-28, on Saturday• On Purdue’s opening drive of the second half, intercepted a pass and returned it 43 yards for a score, giving the Gophers a commanding 41-7 lead• Also recorded six tackles as Minnesota held Purdue to 198 passing yards• Wins his first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week laurel• Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: Derrick Wells (Sept. 3, 2012)

Ryan Shazier, Ohio StateSo., LB, Plantation, Fla./Plantation• Returned an interception 17 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter against Penn State, giving Ohio State a 14-7 lead it would not relinquish• Recorded a team-high eight tackles, including two sacks for 22 yards, and a forced fumble • Was part of the Ohio State defense that limited Penn State to just 32 yards rushing• Takes home his first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor• Last Ohio State Defensive Player of the Week: John Simon (Oct. 17, 2011)

Special Teams Player of the WeekBrett Maher, NebraskaSr., P/K, Kearney, Neb./Kearney• Accounted for 11 points and averaged 42.3 yards per punt in Nebraska’s 23-9 victory over Michigan on Saturday• Was a perfect three-for-three on field-goal tries, converting from 19, 31 and 51 yards, which was his fifth career field goal of 50 yards or longer• Also punted four times for 169 yards, with two downed inside the Michigan 20-yard line• Wins his fifth Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week award, tied for the most in Big Ten history, and second this season• Last Nebraska Special Teams Player of the Week: Brett Maher (Oct. 1, 2012)

Co-Freshman of the WeekPhilip Nelson, MinnesotaQB, Mankato, Minn./West• Threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns in his home debut, leading Minnesota to a 44-28 victory over Purdue on Saturday• Led the Gophers on seven consecutive scoring drives, accounting for 44 unanswered points to take a commanding 44-7 third-quarter lead• Wins his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor• Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: N/A

David Santos, NebraskaLB, Spring, Texas/Klein Collins• Totaled 10 tackles, a career-best, with one tackle for loss in Nebraska’s 23-9 victory over Michigan on Saturday• Was part of a Cornhusker defense that limited Michigan to just 188 yards of total offense and 33 percent passing• Takes home his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week award• Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week: Imani Cross (Sept. 24, 2012)